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 After receiving a Conditional Use Permit from Logan County in
2011, the project has recently seen completion of its electrical
interconnection location by Ameren. The Fogarty Switchyard (located
one mile south of I-55 mile marker 123) was recently constructed by
AMEREN as part of a Generator Interconnection Agreement with the
wind farm and will allow the electricity produced by the project to
connect to the high voltage electrical grid. The switchyard will
also increase electrical reliability for the area.
Sugar Creek represents a significant investment of time and money in
the development of the project which has weathered multiple federal
tax credit expirations and a slumping power market due to the
nation's economic turmoil. There are signs of improvement says Stan
Komperda, AWEM Corp's Director of Development, "It's been a
challenging environment the last several years, but the project is
definitely ready for the turn around."
Over ninety landowners and eleven thousand acres have signed to
the project which will host up to one hundred and seventeen wind
turbine generators.
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The delay in constructing the project has not been all bad.
"We've seen some major improvements in the turbine technology
that will be brought to the project and there were some
significant changes in the electrical grid process which will
translate to more value for this project and others we have
under development in Central Illinois.", said Komperda. "Recent
legislation will also accelerate the retirement of coal fired
plants and the electrical generation to replace it will be made
up, in a large part, by new wind development", he added.
Project construction is expected to take twelve to eighteen months
and will include improvements to rural roads. The project will also
create significant construction jobs and long term payments to
landowners and local taxing bodies. Construction is anticipated
prior to 2016.
[Text received; STAN KOMPERDA,
DIRECTOR OF DEVELOPMENT, AMERICAN WIND ENERGY MANAGEMENT CORP.]
AWEM Corp is based in Springfield,
Illinois. |
